Leelah Alcorn, a 17-year-old transgender woman, left a heartbreaking suicide note on her Tumblr before getting hit by a semi-truck on Interstate 21 in Ohio.

First, she writes of how painful it is to go through life as a transgender woman whose family refuses to accept her identity:

When I was 14, I learned what transgender meant and cried of happiness. After 10 years of confusion I finally understood who I was. I immediately told my mom, and she reacted extremely negatively, telling me that it was a phase, that I would never truly be a girl, that God doesn't make mistakes, that I am wrong. If you are reading this, parents, please don't tell this to your kids. Even if you are Christian or are against transgender people don't ever say that to someone, especially your kid. That won't do anything but make them hate them self. That's exactly what it did to me.

Then, of the aftermath when her parents pulled her out of school for coming out as gay as a first step toward transitioning:

After a summer of having almost no friends plus the weight of having to think about college, save money for moving out, keep my grades up, go to church each week and feel like shit because everyone there is against everything I live for, I have decided I've had enough. I'm never going to transition successfully, even when I move out. ... People say "it gets better" but that isn't true in my case. It gets worse. Each day I get worse.

And lastly, of her hope that one day trans people can live a better life:

I want 100% of the things that I legally own to be sold and the money (plus my money in the bank) to be given to trans civil rights movements and support groups, I don't give a shit which one. The only way I will rest in peace is if one day transgender people aren't treated the way I was, they're treated like humans, with valid feelings and human rights. Gender needs to be taught about in schools, the earlier the better. My death needs to mean something. My death needs to be counted in the number of transgender people who commit suicide this year. I want someone to look at that number and say "that's fucked up" and fix it. Fix society. Please.

We mourn the tragic loss of a beautiful young woman. If you or someone you know is in crisis, the Trevor Project is a crisis intervention resource for young LGBTQ men and women. The number is 1-866-488-7386.

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